Shock absorber



Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

warren STATES HAROLD M. BENSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA;

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed March 1, 1926.

This invention'relates to improvements in shock absorbers and has particular reference to that type commonly known as pneumatic shock absorbers.

The principal object of this invention is tion and therefore economical to ma-nu'facture.

Another object is to produce a device having a minimum amount of wear and therefore one which will last a considerable length of time without the necessity of re- Jair.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which may be attached to a standard automobile without materially altering the construction of the same.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 8

Figure I is a longitudinal cross-section of my shock-absorber, I

Figure II is a side elevation on a reduced scale showing my shock absorber attached to a portion of the chassis of an automobile, and

Figure III is an end elevation of Figure II.

It is a well known fact that air is an extremely resilient medium and one which does not lose its elasticity as does rubber, springs and the like devices. I have therefore produced adevice employing air under pressure in such a manner that all road shocks will be effectively absorbed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a casting having a cylinder 6 and a cylinder 7. It will be noted that the cylinder 6 is of a smaller diameter than the cylinder 7. At 8 I have shown a plug adapted to close the end of the cylinder 7, while at 9 I have shown a cap which serves to enclose one end of a bell crank Serial No. 91,529.

lever 11. This bell crank lever has pivoted thereto as at 12 a lever 13 which is in turn pivoted as at 14; to a piston rod 15. This pistonrod carries a head 16 which is of substantially the same diameter as the cylinder 6.

At 17, 18 and 19 I have shown cup washers which are of-t-he ordinary construction, and therefore need no further description. The cup washers 17 and 18 are separatedby a spacer block 21, while a similar spacer block 22 separates the washers 18 and 191.

' At 23 I have shown a filler block of the same diameter as the cylinder 6, whichfiller block is provided with a head 24 of substantially the same diameter as the cylinder 7. This head is adapted to contact a cup washer 26. i

A similar cup washer'is shown at 27, while a filler block 28 is interposed between these last mentioned cup washers. A nut 31 is threadedly engaged upon the end of the piston rod 15. i

The result is that when the nut 31 is tightened, the washers and the filler blocks are all compressed as is clearly illustrated in Figure I.

At 32, I have shown a pipe which communicates with the cylinder 7 at a point to the rear of the washers 27 and 28. This pipe is adapted to conduct compressed air or gas from any suitable source to the chamber 7 It is my intention to place a check valve in this pipe to prevent back pressure out of the cylinder 7 and to secure pressure from one of the cylinders of the engine of the car, upon which the device is attached.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Assuming that compressed air is conducted from the pipe 32 to the chamber 7 this air will leak past the washers 27 and 28 and fill the space A which surrounds the filler block 23. The air will be prevented fromleaking any further by the washers 17, 18 and 19. The-result of this pressure behind the piston will be to push outwardly upon that portion of the bell crank lever 11 which is within the device, which will result in the pressure being transmitted through a connecting link 33 to a securing lug 34. This lug is attached to the axle 36 of the machine thus tending to lift the chassis away from the axle.

\Vhen driving along a highway, and an obstruction is encountered the body of the vehicle will tend to move upwardly. This will result in the piston tending to more further lon'zird the left of the (lllHilllfl'H whirll will compress the air confined in the spare A, Thus eherlcing the upward liendenoy of the vehicle body. The resnil being ihnl the body of The can in snpprn-l'ed lo 11 large extent 11 non :1 n nir CllSlllOl].

It- 'Will thus be seen l'hnl l. lnire provided :1 simple and eilieienl: means for nrron1pli:-ah-- in the objects :iliove set forlh.

It is to be understood that the form of my invei'il ion herewilh shown and dersrrihed is to be taken 11:; :1 preferred example oi the same, and [hill 'illiUllS elmngres relative to the size, shape and :1rrnnge1nei'1l1 of pnrlizi may be resorlerl to wilhonl depirliinr, from the spirit of the invenlion, or the scope o the snbjoined claim.

Hming thus described my inrenlioin 1 elni1n:-

In :1 shock absorber oi 'lhe ehnrzn'ler described adapted to be altar-lied to an indo- Inohile having a ehnssin 21nd an axle, =1 easiling having cylinders formed therein, said cylinders being of dill'erent diznneter, i1 piston positioned Within said cylinder. said piston including 21 head, and :1 piston rod,

a plnralil'y oi? (11p Washers; positioned on said red, the free edges oi? mid 0111) washers extending in :1 direction toward the larger eyhndrrr ol' .iiiill device, i-i nnter hloelns inter-- posed lJtiWOUll mid cup washers, r1 lilier block poeii'ioned on said piston rod, enid filler hloek inning :11 head ilornied inregrnl therewith and of :1 diameter equal to the larger of said rlirrders, :1. cup washer zilnilring said head and having in; free edge exlending in or direelion toward the smaller cylinder of said de\'iee,:1liilerhloelcabutting; said run \Ydhlltl', 11 second run washer Slllll- .lrn'ly poeilioned to said last mentioned 1:11p washer 11 nnl; secured to niiid pisl'on rod and :nhipled to COZllPllbim said clip WIrEllQl'H and mid filler hloeke, a ping adapted to he seenred lo said casting and ndnpled lo eenl one end thereof, 11 pipe communicating Willi the interior 0? said lnrger cylinder at :1 point ridjsieein: said plug, a bell crank lever mount ed on F fll l ensling and eriinneetingg with said piston, :1 link connecting said hell ernnl; lever and the axle of said automobile.

in testimony whereof I ullix my signature.

HAROLD M. BENSON. 

